Photo below shows the joint KWS / Tsavo Trust Tembo 1 team based on the southern boundary of TENP, here on 11th April 2017 with an arrested ivory dealer caught with 5 elephant tusks. This was one of two dealer arrests made in April where a total of 7 Elephant tusks were recovered weighing 58kg

Big Tusker Project - aerial and ground teams:

The Tsavo Trust’s Big Tusker Project (BTP) recorded the following details in the BTP database:

Total of 15 different individual Tusker’s were observed from ground and air coverage.

Tusker coded as ND1, who has not been located in TWNP for the last 39 months (and was presumed dead) has been found on the slopes of Kilimanjaro (near Satao Elerai Camp) on 17/4/17 by Big Life Foundation scout. BLF immediately sent photos of ND1 and confirmed to be him. He was last seen in TWNP on 18/1/2014!

2 new emerging Tuskers identified and coded as HA1 (21/4/17) and DR1 (15/4/17) in TENP.

3 bull Super Tuskers – 11 different sightings.

7 emerging Tuskers – 10 sightings.

5 iconic cow Tuskers – 14 sightings.

Total sightings – 35

Weather conditions: Southern parts of TENP and much of TWNP some good rains.

- Elephant mortality: Number of carcasses found significantly down.

- Rhino security: 9 rhino specific aerial recces took place with KWS / TT aircraft in TWNP and TENP. TT - Tembo 3 team continued in support to KWS in ground operations in the TW IPZ. Continued strong and valuable 3 way partnership between KWS / ZSL and TT continues with specific focus on rhino protection in TWNP.

Table 1: Shows “Tusker” code, number of times observed during month and brief remarks.

Tusker Code

No. TimesSeen / Month

Remarks

BULLS

LU1

9

In good health but requents an unsafe area!

WS1

1

In worrying and unsafe location

ND1

1

Not seen in 39 months. Great newshe is still aloive

MU1

2

Moved to worrying boundary location following rain there

EM1

1

Moves big distances, but generally in unsafe and remote areas

MZ1

1

Same original location

DR1

2

New emerging bull seen before but now confrmed as a new bull to database

HA1

1

New emerging bull seen before but now confirmed as a new bull to database

KI1

1

Has moved far with recent rains

MA1

2

Back to normal area

COWS

F_VPL

3

Back to normal location. Looking very old and thin, often alone!

F_MU1

6

Back to normal area. Looking very old and thin.

F_DI1

2

Moves biig distances with recent rain, had not been located for 5 months.

F-KA1

2

Looking very, very old and thin. Seen alone!

F_XT1

1

Back to normal location

Total

10 bulls, 5, cows: 35 different sighings

Close working relationship between KWS and Tsavo Trust (aerial and ground units combined) is without doubt adding to elephant security and safety of the big Tuskers and other elephants within the TCA through meaningful collaboration alongside KWS Security and Research and Monitoring Departments.

Photo shows newly identified emerging Tusker coded as HA1 on 21st April 2017, walking away in a desolate part of TENP.

Photo shows newly identified emerging Tusker coded HA1 on 21st April 2017. Given just a few more years of life, this bull will certainly become a Super Tusker. Tsavo is blessed with a strong gene pool of such magnificent elephants.

The locations mentioned above is only an indicator of flight paths taken, many other areas in between are also covered and in so doing providing “eyes in the skies” over Tsavo and directional guidance to ground units.

All flight paths are logged and recorded with all relevant real time observations relayed to KWS on a daily basis for their records as well as necessary rapid reaction.

Map below shows flight paths for April 2017 where 78 hours were flown in support to KWS for anti-poaching, wildlife monitoring and aerial census operations covering 5,939 miles over the Tsavo’s.

Field Mobile Units:

All Tsavo Trust mobile field units work with and in support of KWS on a daily basis. Tembo 1 and 3 teams are anti-poaching focused Tembo 2 team is monitoring and research dedicated.

Other Tsavo Trust Activities in brief:

Community Program: KAMUNGI CONSERVANCY:Ongoing partnership and stewardship development between Tsavo Trust and Kamungi Conservancy (bordering northern boundary of TENP – Triangle) have continued in varying ways:

Procurement of solar equipment and pump has been done and now awaiting installation.

Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) – Elephant & Bees Project is working well and some hives are already over flowing with honey. This bodes well for the future of this project.

HWC – Tsavo Trust employs a Community Liaison Officer who continues to maintain a database of HWC occurrences that have taken place along the north boundary of TENP – Triangle. Much of this falls within Kamungi Conservancy. In 2016 HWC averaged 20.4 incidents per month.

Photo below shows clearly how urgent the need is for the people of Kamungi Conservancy to enjoy clean water. Here water is being collected from a dirty water hole used by livestock and wildlife. The new water project put in place by Tsavo Trust will go along way to give this community clean and healthy drinking water, something they have never enjoyed before.

Leopard Cub Release:

Dotty the female leopard is now 1 year old and continues her slow rehabilitation process into the wild within TENP. She continues to grow very fast and is doing well in making her own kills and learning about her new environment.

Photo shows “Dotty” out on her daily walks in TENP with one of her dedicated keepers, Kitheka.

Dotty has now been roaming her area of release for 5 months and so far coping very well.

Unusual Photo of the Month:

Photo below shows the Tsavo Trust’s Tembo 2 research and monitoring team in the vehicle observing one of Tsavo’s iconic cow Tuskers coded as F_VPL on 6th April 2017. Tembo 2 team works daily with KWS within TENP with a specific emphasis on Tusker monitoring but also gathering field data on endangered species (Grevy’s zebra and Hirola) and predator monitoring including wild dogs.

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